The Chesterfield football history resource

Walter
"Wash" Bannister remains the only Chesterfield player to die from
injuries received on the football field. Hasland-born, He grew up on Chester
Street, one of ten children of Issac and Harriet Bannister, andstarted playing
football with clubs in the Brampton area before joining Chesterfield Town from
Brampton United in 1889.

He
was said to be the first player to be paid a wage by Chesterfield Town,
although that distinction has also been claimed for a team-mate, Arthur
Vickers. Whether he was the Town club's first professional or not, he quickly
rose to become a valued member of the club. He and Isaac Turner jointly
received the proceeds of a "benefit" match against Breaston in April
1891, and he skippered the side to a notable local "treble" in
1891-2.

On
November 4th 1893 Chesterfield entertained Derby Junction in the FA
Cup. It was an attractive fixture; the Junction team were previous FA Cup
semi-finalists and a good crowd was present at the men of the Crooked Spire
took an early lead. The Derby side came back into it and broke through Allsopp,
a fast, direct winger. Bannister came across at speed to tackle and, in the
collision, took a blow to his side from Allsopp's knee. Bannister left the
field, apparently winded, but keen to continue. His condition worsened during
half time, though, and he was taken along Saltergate to the Royal Hospital on a
handcart.

The
doctors diagnosed kidney damage and ordered rest, which Bannister took at home
with his wife, Olive, and their new baby. After a fortnight or so some friends
called, and Bannister went out with them; while he was out he fell, and his
condition deteriorated. He was readmitted to hospital but died on November
23rd, 1893, at the age of 24.

A
benefit match was played against Brampton Works in December; collections were
held and something like £30 was raised for Walter's widow and baby. Crowds lined
Chatsworth Road to pay their last respects as Walter was interred at St
Thomas's, in Brampton. An inquest was held, and concluded that Bannister had
died of a rupture to the kidney damaged in the match with Derby Junction. No
blame was attached to Allsopp, who gave evidence to the inquest, along with
other players and spectators.

With
some justification, the coroner concluded that such a fate must be considered
as one of the risks of playing football. Walter was by no means the only local
man to die under such circumstances around that time. The news of Bannister's death made it into local newspapers all over the country, and, by golly, it doesn't
half put the amateur theatricals of the modern Premiership footballer into perspective.